STEVEN GERRARD is NOT enough to convince top players to join Rangers.

Gerrard has been strongly linked with the manager’s job at Ibrox following the sacking of Graeme Murty.

The Liverpool under-18s coach has held talks with Rangers officials and is expected to resume negotiations later this week.

Should Gerrard agree to become the new Rangers boss, he faces a mammoth task to end Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football, especially without huge funds available.

And Barnes believes Gerrard’s reputation as a player won’t be enough to encourage quality players to join Rangers.

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Steven Gerrard looks set to become the new Rangers boss

The whole idea of players going to Rangers just because Steven Gerrard is there, that doesn’t happen anywhere in football anymore

John Barnes

“It’s going to be equally intense, if not more intense. However, in Merseyside derbies they were equal to or better than Everton so they could compete,” he told Sky Sports.

“So as I said, Rangers playing against Celtic with Guardiola in charge aren’t necessarily going to be able to challenge them at this particular stage and that is where I think that everybody has to understand.

“But of course I think it will be a good move for Steven, I think if he wants to manage, I think he can be very good and Gary McAllister being there will also help.

“But I think the Rangers fans would have to really temper their expectations in terms of Steven Gerrard coming and if they don’t’ challenge Celtic straight away then it’s a failure.

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Graeme Murty was sacked by Rangers

“He will know the challenge. He’s not going to go there and be naive enough to think all of a sudden ‘I’m going to turn it around’.

“Obviously he will have more of an idea than me as to the financial implications of him being there and what support he will get financially but I think it’s obvious that they aren’t able financially at this particular moment in time to compete with Celtic so he’s not going to get the players.

“The whole idea of players going to Rangers just because Steven Gerrard is there, that doesn’t happen anywhere in football anymore. It’s more to do with if you have money to pay then the better players will come.

“I think Rangers being in the top division for three or four years, to get that money and to possibly get into the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League, the money can be there in the, hopefully for them, not too distant future.

“But at this moment in time they’re not able to compete financially so fans shouldn’t expect Rangers to compete on the pitch with Celtic over a season.”